Posts Tagged hotspot

We’ve seen some pretty clever hotspots in our day, but ZTE is determined to trump them all with its new Projector Hotspot. As the name implies, it’s both a 1080p DLP projector (with HDMI and WiFi Display support) as well as an 8-device LTE hotspot, giving your mobile devices a big screen and internet access at the same time. However, it’s smart enough that you sometimes won’t need another device at all. This hotspot runs Android 4.2, folks — you can hop online through its 4-inch touchscreen and project content from any app or website. ZTE plans to bring the Projector Hotspot to the US sometime in 2014, although it isn’t yet saying which carriers (if any) are involved with the launch.

Three UK has begun selling the Nexus 7 (2013) tablet, though it’s not the LTE variant. Three has the WiFi version for sale, starting at £199. While it seems O2 has exclusivity on the LTE Nexus 7, Three has an interesting workaround for UK users.

Rather than wait for the LTE version, or switch to O2, loyal Three customers can purchase a MiFi hotspot alongside their tablet. The device, made by Huawei and starting at £29.99 with a £15.99 monthly contract, is bundled neatly with the tablet. For those shy about contracts, you can also buy the hotspot straight away on a pay-as-you-go plan for £49.99.

The contracted hotspot will get you 5GB data for your £15.99/month. Purchasing it outright will get you 1GB data pre-loaded, so be sure to examine your data usage prior to opting for a hotspot. That £15.99/month fee is the middle tier price for the contracted hotspot, and Three wasn’t clear on whether or not they’d allow for the lower or higher end offerings with this package.

Of course, you can always go back and get the hotspot later, should you find yourself wanting for a connection whilst out and about. This doesn’t appear to be a special bargain for bundling, even under contract. The Nexus 7, though, is worth the cost. It’s a fabulous device, and worth a hard look if you’re in the market for a tablet.

T-Mobile customers have yet another reason to celebrate. Postpaid subscribers on unlimited plans will now get more data for the hotspot plans. $20 will get you 2.5GB, $30 will net 4.5GB, and $40 will take home 6.5GB.

Previously, the plans didn’t include as much data. They were $20 for 500MB, $30 for 2.5GB, and $40 for 4.5GB. The deals supposedly went live on September 10, and if you are already signed up with one of the original plans, your existing plan will be automatically migrated to the new plan that coincides with your current price level.

T-Mobile customers have yet another reason to celebrate. Postpaid subscribers on unlimited plans will now get more data for the hotspot plans. $20 will get you 2.5GB, $30 will net 4.5GB, and $40 will take home 6.5GB.

Previously, the plans didn’t include as much data. They were $20 for 500MB, $30 for 2.5GB, and $40 for 4.5GB. The deals supposedly went live on September 10, and if you are already signed up with one of the original plans, your existing plan will be automatically migrated to the new plan that coincides with your current price level.

T-Mobile customers have yet another reason to celebrate. Postpaid subscribers on unlimited plans will now get more data for the hotspot plans. $20 will get you 2.5GB, $30 will net 4.5GB, and $40 will take home 6.5GB.

Previously, the plans didn’t include as much data. They were $20 for 500MB, $30 for 2.5GB, and $40 for 4.5GB. The deals supposedly went live on September 10, and if you are already signed up with one of the original plans, your existing plan will be automatically migrated to the new plan that coincides with your current price level.

Anyone who’s tried to tether to their iPhone or iPad will recall how iOS manages to craft its own passwords when used as a personal hotspot. The aim is to ensure that anyone sharing a data connection will get some degree of security, regardless of whether or not they tinker with the password themselves. However, three researchers from FAU in Germany have now worked the structure behind these auto-generated keys — a combination of a short English word and a series or random numbers — and managed to crack that hotspot protection in under a minute. To start, the word list contains about 52,500 entries, and once the testers were able to capture a WiFi connection, they used an AMD Radeon HD 6990 GPU to cycle through all those words with number codes, taking just under 50 minutes to crack with rote entry. Following that, they realized that only a small subset (just 1,842) of the word list was being used.

With an even faster GPU — a cluster of four AMD Radeon HD 7970s — they got the hotspot password cracking time to 50 seconds. The Friedrich-Alexander University researchers added that unscrupulous types could use comparable processing power through cloud computing. “System-generated passwords should be reasonably long, and should use a reasonably large character set. Consequently, hotspot passwords should be composed of completely random sequences of letters, numbers, and special characters,” says the report, which outlines the trade-off between security and usability. However, as ZDNet notes, Apple’s cycled password approach still offers more protection than static options found elsewhere. Check out the full paper at the source.

Anyone who’s tried to tether to their iPhone or iPad will recall how iOS manages to craft its own passwords when used as a personal hotspot. The aim is to ensure that anyone sharing their data connection will get some degree of security, regardless of whether they tinker with the password themselves. However, three researchers from FAU in Germany have now worked the structure behind these auto-generated keys — a combination of a short english word and a series or random numbers — and managed to crack that hotspot protection in under a minute. To start, the word list is listed to around 52,500 entries, and once the testers are able to capture a WiFi connection, they used an AMD Radeon HD 6990 GPU to cycle through all those words with number codes, taking just under 50 minutes to crack with rote entry. Following that, they realized that only a small subset (just 1,842) of the word list was being used.

Factor in an even faster GPU — a cluster of four AMD Radeon HD 7970s — and they got the hotspot password cracking time to 50 seconds. The Friedrich-Alexander University researchers added that unscrupulous types could use comparable processing power through cloud computing. ““System-generated passwords should be reasonably long, and should use a reasonably large character set. Consequently, hotspot passwords should be composed of completely random sequences of letters, numbers, and special characters,” it says in the report, which outlines the trade-off between security and usability. However, as ZDNet notes, Apple’s cycled password approach still offers more protection than static options found elsewhere. Check out the full paper at the source.

The self-described "Un-Carrier" is also changing up the way it bills for mobile broadband on tablets, hotspots and data sticks today. There is now very little distinction between adding a phone and adding a tablet to your plan, with simplified pricing throughout. For stand-alone devices on their own account, tablets, hotspots, laptops and data sticks will have a base charge of $20 per month for 500MB of high-speed data, throttled to 2G thereafter. Each additional $10 per month adds 2GB to that allotment, all the way up to 12.5GB per month for $80.

If you are adding a tablet, hotspot, laptop or data stick to an existing individual or family plan, the prices are cut by $10 per month. So if you already have a phone line with T-Mobile, adding a tablet with 500MB of data is the same price — just $10 — as adding another phone line with 500MB of data.

This is a huge move in the right direction for T-Mobile, as it helps confirm what we all know already — that data is data, no matter what device you're using it on. The carrier hasn't historically been a popular destination for users wanting tablet and hotspot data plans, but this may help sway some customers going forward.

The self-described "Un-Carrier" is also changing up the way it bills for mobile broadband on tablets, hotspots and data sticks today. There is now very little distinction between adding a phone and adding a tablet to your plan, with simplified pricing throughout. For stand-alone devices on their own account, tablets, hotspots, laptops and data sticks will have a base charge of $20 per month for 500MB of high-speed data, throttled to 2G thereafter. Each additional $10 per month adds 2GB to that allotment, all the way up to 12.5GB per month for $80.

If you are adding a tablet, hotspot, laptop or data stick to an existing individual or family plan, the prices are cut by $10 per month. So if you already have a phone line with T-Mobile, adding a tablet with 500MB of data is the same price — just $10 — as adding another phone line with 500MB of data.

This is a huge move in the right direction for T-Mobile, as it helps confirm what we all know already — that data is data, no matter what device you're using it on. The carrier hasn't historically been a popular destination for users wanting tablet and hotspot data plans, but this may help sway some customers going forward.

The self-described "Un-Carrier" is also changing up the way it bills for mobile broadband on tablets, hotspots and data sticks today. There is now very little distinction between adding a phone and adding a tablet to your plan, with simplified pricing throughout. For stand-alone devices on their own account, tablets, hotspots, laptops and data sticks will have a base charge of $20 per month for 500MB of high-speed data, throttled to 2G thereafter. Each additional $10 per month adds 2GB to that allotment, all the way up to 12.5GB per month for $80.

If you are adding a tablet, hotspot, laptop or data stick to an existing individual or family plan, the prices are cut by $10 per month. So if you already have a phone line with T-Mobile, adding a tablet with 500MB of data is the same price — just $10 — as adding another phone line with 500MB of data.

This is a huge move in the right direction for T-Mobile, as it helps confirm what we all know already — that data is data, no matter what device you're using it on. The carrier hasn't historically been a popular destination for users wanting tablet and hotspot data plans, but this may help sway some customers going forward.

As we reported just days ago, the DROID DNA was set to receive an update to build 2.04.605.2. This update includes improvements for WiFi connectivity, Bluetooth connectivity, and other things such as improved audio quality over wired headsets and earpieces. Basically, it’s nothing too special. But then again, any day Verizon updates a device should go into [...]

Mobile data hotspots aren’t the world’s most exciting products, though if you travel consistently, they can be an absolute lifesaver. But let’s be brutally honest: the average mobile data consumer really doesn’t care about the hotspot itself – as long as it works. They care about the network, and the monthly pricing. That’s really it.

The hotspot is basically just a tiny little Wi-Fi router with a cellular modem and a lithium-ion battery inside. If it functions properly, you only remember it exists when the battery dies. If it doesn’t, it’s the worst thing in the universe, and you actively contemplate just how many pieces it would shatter into after a fall from the 4th story window of Homewood Suites.

Wi-Fi-only tablets are pretty popular and for good reason. No one wants to pay for a second data plan just for their slate, and the hardware is cheaper if you get it without 3G/4G radios anyway. Seems like a win. Until you get out of your house and curse your disconnected device and its inability to Google Jeff Goldblum’s height at the drop of a hat. Enter FreedomPop.

The service may not be new, but it is novel: 500MB of free data per month. That’s it. The end. No strings. Oh, sure, there are overage fees. And you can pay to get more if you really want to.

There are two factors that are of the utmost importance when it comes to choosing mobile hotspots: speed and battery life. Further down the list is portability, with hardware design ranking even lower. So the idea of a touchscreen MiFi struck us as a ridiculous luxury, the sort of thing we’d find in a SkyMall catalog. This is why we were intrigued by the MiFi Liberate, Novatel Wireless’s first-ever 4G LTE MiFi with a built-in touchscreen. While it might seem like a gimmick, the interface does, in fact, provide quick access to vital stats like data usage. Novatel wasn’t content to leave it at that, though: the Liberate has features we would never dream of adding to a MiFi, including media streaming, GPS and even a basic messaging app. Fortunately, the addition of such features don’t inflate the price: it’s available for $50 with a new two-year agreement with AT&T. How well does it all work? Join us after the break for our review.

Smaller wireless providers have to do what it takes to to stay competitive in a market with many options. For some, this has meant mergers. Others have opted to cut service pricing to lure in a few extra subscribers. US Cellular is doing their best to stay relevant by introducing a new unlimited 4G LTE data option.

The plan starts at $40 with an option to add data tethering for $20 more per month, a limited-time offer for customers residing in any of US Cellular’s 4G markets. The carrier aims to have 58 percent of its subscriber base covered with LTE by the end of the year.

In order to take advantage of the new 4G data pricing, US cellular is offering a selection of handsets with a $100 instant rebate, including the Samsung Galaxy S3. They are also offering a free Samsung LTE hotspot along with the purchase of any smartphone or tablet.

XCom Global has announced, in an interesting move, that you’ll now be able to rent a Nexus 7 or Nexus 10 while traveling abroad. Yes, I said rent. This interesting business model takes into account a lot of assumptions, like say your current laptop setup isn’t ideal or is too cumbersome. Or you currently do not own a compact tablet more conducive for travel. Or maybe you just don’t want to risk traveling with your own epuipment. Well XCom Global has quelled those issues by offering up a rental option on arguably the hottest tablet lineup out there.

The price to rent is set at $2 per day for the Nexus 7 and $3 per day for the Nexus 10. However, they’re offering a special introductory rate of $1 and $2 per day respectively. I’ve got a feeling that consumers will look at this as more of a test drive for the product rather than actually using it to replace their device while traveling. What do you think about this business plan? Hit the break for the full press release.

XCom Global Now Offering Nexus Tablet Rentals Starting at $1 Per Day

– International travelers can now add on a tablet rental when gearing up for their trip abroad –

SAN DIEGO, CA. – November 15, 2012 – XCom Global, Inc., a leading provider of low cost wireless Internet access rental services for international travelers, announced today that they are now offering Nexus tablet rentals starting at an introductory rate of $1 per day. http://www.xcomglobal.com

“Google’s Nexus tablets are the perfect size for international travel,” said Seiji Nishimura, founder and CEO, XCom Global, Inc. “What we have found many people still find traveling with their laptops cumbersome, and yet their smartphone cannot replace the functionality and ease of use that a larger device provides. They may not want to purchase a tablet because their other devices fit their everyday needs, so our low cost rental is the perfect solution.”

XCom Global has both Nexus 7 and Nexus 10 rentals available to add on to any mobile hotspot rental. The Nexus 7 rental is priced at $2 per day and the Nexus 10 at $3 per day. However, XCom Global is offering both rentals at the special introductory rates of $1 per day for the Nexus 7 and $2 for the Nexus 10. The Nexus 10 was just released by Google and features the world’s highest resolution tablet display. It’s extremely portable at 8.9 mm thin and weighing only 603 grams.

XCom Global’s high-speed Internet access rental service provides international travelers low cost, flat rate data usage and the freedom to wirelessly roam abroad in 175 countries. To keep the process quick and easy, travelers simply provide their itinerary and XCom Global recommends the best plan to fit their needs.

Bundled with XCom Global’s aXcess plan, the Mobile Hotspot rental unit enables instant access to a personal mobile hotspot, so travelers can stay connected wherever they are. Up to five WiFi-enabled devices can use the unit simultaneously allowing the Mobile Hotspot to be shared with traveling companions and saving on multiple usage charges. http://xcomglobal.com/devices/.

AT&T will have more to come after its Windows Phone 8 launches are underway this month, as it’s has committing to launching two of its previously promised affordable devices on November 16th. Its mid-tier Samsung Galaxy Express will go on sale that day with a $100 contract price to satisfy those who want a Galaxy S III-like experience at half the cost. Those who just want LTE and HSPA data should also find Novatel’s MiFi Liberate touchscreen hotspot on sale for $50 under similar terms. Neither will necessarily shake up the mobile world, but they won’t have to at their prices.

FreedomPop’s gamble on free WiMAX data launched in beta at the start of month, but early adopters had to be contented with conventional hotspots and modems at first; those of us with a fixation on data-only cellular handsets had to keep waiting. We can stay slightly cooler-headed now that the provider is shipping its iPod touch 4G Sleeve. Shelling out $99 grafts a 4G hotspot to the back of the fourth-generation media player that gives it independence from WiFi as well as connection sharing with eight other devices — at least, for anyone willing to burn through that 500MB of free monthly data in record time. About the only catches are the $10 per gigabyte overage fee and a design that’s just slightly behind the times for iPod addicts. While some of us will still cling to smartphones for coverage or legacy reasons, others who mostly communicate through Instagram food photos could have that excuse they need to drop cellular phone service once and for all.

Update: Thanks to reader (and early adopter) Penn who pointed out that overages are $20 per gigabyte if you’re on the free plan — it’s only $10 if you’re a regularly paying customer.

FreedomPop’s gamble on free WiMAX data launched in beta at the start of month, but early adopters had to be contented with conventional hotspots and modems at first; those of us with a fixation on data-only cellular handsets had to keep waiting. We can stay slightly cooler-headed now that the provider is shipping its iPod touch 4G Sleeve. Shelling out $99 grafts a 4G hotspot to the back of the fourth-generation media player that gives it independence from WiFi as well as connection sharing with eight other devices — at least, for anyone willing to burn through that 500MB of free monthly data in record time. About the only catches are the $10 per gigabyte overage fee and a design that’s just slightly behind the times for iPod addicts. While some of us will still cling to smartphones for coverage or legacy reasons, others who mostly communicate through Instagram food photos could have that excuse they need to drop cellular phone service once and for all.

Traveling is great — nay, amazing. And travel that requires a passport can be even more fulfilling for those willing to open their minds to new cultures (and, perhaps, deal with entirely too much security screening). But here’s the thing — travel is a lot better, generally speaking, with an internet connection within arm’s reach. Things are never more likely to go awry than when you leave your comfort zone (or, you know, home nation), and we here at Engadget have been investigating the best methods for maintaining a connection whilst abroad for the better part of our lives. To date, you’ve got a smattering of options: rent a MiFi from XCom Global, pick up a rental SIM from iPhoneTrip, pray that you can find a shop that rents data SIMs upon your arrival or pony up for whatever absurd roaming fees that your home operator deems fit.

All of the above options have their pros and cons, but the good news here is that your choices are expanding. As the market for ubiquitous connections continues to grow, another player has recently entered the market. Tep Wireless began as a hotspot rental service that mainly looked after those traversing the United Kingdom, but recently, it expanded its coverage umbrella to include some 38 countries across Europe and 50 nations total. This here editor recently had the opportunity to cross through four of those on a single journey, with a Tep hotspot in hand the entire way. Care to see how things turned out? Let’s reconvene after the break.

We’ve seen a paradoxical trend among carriers determined to get users off their networks as often as possible — they’d rather grant access to sea of public Wi-Fi than push their 3G or 4G networks a step too far. US Cellular isn’t immune to peer pressure and has launched Wi-Fi Now, its own take on streamlining hotspot access. Android phones with the app lurking in the background will automatically latch on to the hotspots run by partners, no sign-in required, as well as factor in both the owner’s home network and other hotspot accounts. Provided you’re a customer, it’s an easy decision to start a download from the source link and alleviate US Cellular’s burden.

Fido has announced today the availability of 4G LTE coverage in Canada today. Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal and St John’s is what the company is starting out with. Expansions are planned later this year to include territories like Kitchener-Waterloo, Guelph, Winnipeg, Edmonton, Kingston and Quebec City, along with a lot of other areas. Fido does not have any sort of LTE powered phones as of yet, but they do have a mobile hotspot available to start things off with. As far as I know, they haven’t even announced a LTE powered phone in the making yet, nor have their really been any rumors around that. That said, I don’t know when we’ll be seeing a Fido LTE powered phone. Fido’s speeds are currently averaging between 12 Mbps and 25 Mbps, sometimes the speeds will hit up to 40 Mbps. What you should know is that Fideo is essentially just tapping into the LTE network that was built by their parent company, Rogers. At least this means a few more high-speed options for users that prefer to go prepaid. The only thing is, since Rogers has priority as the parent company, Fido’s speeds will often be sort of random. Fido’s top data add-on will cost you $25 for 2GB or you can opt for 500MB as part of their top-tier $50 plan.

Mote LTE coverage is fantastic and all, but since Fido is sort of piggybacking off of Rogers, I’m not entirely sure how great it’ll be. I’d much rather see the guys like WIND and Moblicity get on this LTE coverage bandwagon. As you probably know, LTE is a pretty huge selling point when going with carriers like Rogers, Bell, TELUS. If you think about it, compared to Rogers, Fido is going to need some really nice speeds and compelling evidence that it’s actually worth going with Fido. I can imagine that it’s going to have some serious trouble “wowing” customers from Bell, TELUS, or Roger, it’s parent company. Even if Fido were to double up on their data allocations for their two lower tiers, I am really not entirely sure if Fido is the best guy to go with (although, their mobile hotspot sounds pretty fantastic). Hopefully Fido will end up doing really well with this new network.

Is anyone interested in switching over to Fido to check out the supposed speeds that they are offering? Let us know in the comments below!

The folks at SonicElectronix have just built my dream car. Not because it's a big gas-guzzling Dodge RAM, or because it has black leather interior. Those are both great things, but they took the double-din head unit out and replaced it with a compartment to hold a Google Nexus 7 tablet to drive it over the edge for me.

Using an Audison bit one signal processor to drive the sound to the speakers, they have turned what many feel is the best tablet for the money into an information and entertainment device in the Dodge's ample dash. Of course you can use Google Navigation (though a Wifi connection from your phone or a hotspot), but more importantly you can use any of the numerous streaming services provided through the Play Store. While driving alone, I could jam to some Google Music, or while my wife is riding with me, she could watch a movie on Netflix. Or I could let her drive, grab a Bluetooth controller, and play Riptide GP.

Of course we've seen tablets built into cars and trucks before, but with Google's 7-inch offering in the Nexus 7, the project has a completely built-in OEM look and feel. Check out the video, then dream with me.

T-Mobile has sent out a press release letting us know that the Samsung Galaxy Note will be coming "in the coming weeks", confirming the Tweet that went out this morning. The 5.3-inch T-Mobile Galaxy Note will feature HSPA+42 speeds, and be running the Qualcomm Snapdragon like it's counterpart on AT&T. It's also shipping with Ice Cream Sandwich, and features the same great S-Memo application we saw last week.

T-Mobile specific features are Wifi calling, a 5-device mobile hotspot capability, and S.A.F.E. (Samsung Approved for Enterprise) designation, which means a full suite of enterprise-ready features and capabilities, IT policy support, AES256-bit encryption, enhanced support for Microsoft Exchange, and integrated VPN support. You can read the full press release after the break.

As far as regional carriers go, C-Spire is a pretty big deal. Which makes it all the more surprising that the company hasn’t offered standalone pre-paid data plans until now. The southern cellphone network now has three tiers of pre-paid access for your tablet or Mi-Fi, beginning with a $15 100MB package that expires after a week. $30 nets you 300MB over two weeks, while the top tier grants you a whole month’s access and 1GB of data — but will set you back a rather steep $50. Of course, there’s always post-paid solutions for the more demanding, that start at $20 for 1GB per-month and go up to $50 for 5GB. For more, check out the PR after the break.

Hardcore jetsetters should still be turning to Xcom Global, iPhone Trip or a local mobile shop upon arrival, but those who won’t be burning up the megabytes now have yet another alternative when traversing European lands. The outfit best known for keeping those traveling to the UK connected is now branching out a bit, enabling a single rental hotspot to provide mobile data access across 38 countries in the EU. You’ll pay $5 per day for the privilege, but here’s the kicker: only 1GB of data is included, regardless of how long you stay. If you chew through that allotment, you’ll have to pay $55 for an extra 1.4GB or $95 for another 4GB. Granted, that’s significantly less than what AT&T and Verizon would charge, even if you sign up for their discounted global plans. (For those curious, the same pools would run between $180 and $250.) It ain’t ideal for those working on the go, but if you’re just looking to tear through a Foursquare Bucket List while Eurotripping… well, you can place your order today in the source link below.

Initial smartphone access runs $40 a month. Voice minutes and text messages are unlimited. After that, you can share data with as many as 10 devices (so that'd be nine additional devices) with the following breakdown.

1GB shared data – $50

2GB shared data – $60

4GB shared data – $70

6GB shared data – $80

8GB shared data – $90

10GB shared data – $100

So, for example, say you and your spouse each have Android smartphones (as you well should). That's $80 up front. You could then share 4 gigabytes of data a month for $70, which brings you bill to $150 a month. Have an Android tablet? You can add one to the shared plan for another $10 a month.

Sweetening the deal just a little bit is that Wifi hotspot access is included. You'll be using the data from your bucket, but at least it won't cost you any extra for the privilege.

Sprint is hoping new changes to their mobile hotspot pricing models will bring about new customers who might have otherwise been apprehensive to take the jump into their data-only tethering service. The old 5GB for $30 plan has officially been killed off, replaced instead with a lower entry-level 2GB plan for $20, and higher 6GB for $50 plan.

Those of you currently tethering your tablets and computers (the legal way) using Sprint’s now expired $30 5GB plan can continue unaffected by these new changes. You’ll be good until you cancel service.

T-Mobile announced today that it is reshaping its no-contract mobile broadband packages for its 4G tablets, hotspots, and laptop sticks. Beginning May 20, customers will be able to choose between the following pay-as-you-go data plans:

300MB 1-week pass for $15

1.5GB 1-month pass for $25

3.5GB 1-month pass for $35

5GB 1-month pass for $50

The "No Annual Contract Mobile Broadband Service Passes" are priced lower than T-Mobile's current offerings, which include 100 MB for 7 days at $10, 1 GB for 30 days at $30, and 3 GB for 30 days at $50. T-Mobile says that the new passes will be simple to purchase and come with the option of auto-refill. The restructuring comes in the wake of T-Mobile's push to revamp its image, which resulted in a strong first quarter for the number four carrier.

The HTC Evo 4G LTE isn’t the only thing launching at Sprint on May 18. While Wi-Fi hotspots aren’t exactly as big of news as the “true Evo successor,” this one is a little different from the rest. Sierra Wireless is launching their $99 Tri-Fi Hotspot on May 18, the first Wi-Fi hotspot ever to support 4G LTE, WiMax, and 3G. This hotspot will ensure that no matter where you live, you will still get Sprint coverage (that is, if you have Sprint coverage) like you would with your phone. The hotspot supports up to 8 different devices at one time, and also has an SD card slot for sharing documents and presentations and can even be used as a digital media server. This is definitely an ideal hotspot for a team of people looking to stay online and work together as seamlessly as possible.

Sprint and Sierra Wireless are bringing this device so people can still be productive with their hotspot after LTE gets to their area without having to go buy a brand new hardware unit. A $50 mail-in rebate is required to get to the $99 price tag, but after that is taken care of you have a pretty good deal when it comes to the hotspot itself. The plans are $35 for 3 GB of data, $50 for 6 GB of data, and $80 for 12 GB of data. With a 2-year agreement and a choice of one of these data plans, Sprint customers can pick up the world’s first Tri-Fi Hotspot on May 18 at their nearest Sprint location or online.